[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 9 (Thursday, January 13, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2370-2372]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-717]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 9 / Thursday, January 13, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2370]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Cirrus Design Corporation Model SR20 
and SR22 Airplanes

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Model SR20 and SR22 
airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to measure and adjust the 
crew seat break-over bolts and to replace the crew seat recline locks 
on both crew seats. This proposed AD results from CDC discovering that 
the crew seats, under emergency landing dynamic loads, may fold forward 
at less than 26 G required by the regulations. We are issuing this 
proposed AD to prevent the crew seats from folding forward during 
emergency landing with dynamic loads with consequent occupant injury.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by February 24, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following to submit comments on this proposed 
AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically.
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590-001.
     Fax: 1-202-493-2251.
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    To get the service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, 
Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737.
    To view the comments to this proposed AD, go to http://dms.dot.gov. 
The docket number is FAA-2004-19694.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Angie Kostopoulos, Aerospace Engineer, 
ACE-116C, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 2300 East Devon 
Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; telephone: (847) 294-
7426; facsimile: (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    How do I comment on this proposed AD? We invite you to submit any 
written relevant data, views, or arguments regarding this proposal. 
Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include the 
docket number, ``FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD'' 
at the beginning of your comments. We will post all comments we 
receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal 
information you provide. We will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking. Using the search function of our docket web site, anyone 
can find and read the comments received into any of our dockets, 
including the name of the individual who sent the comment (or signed 
the comment on behalf of an association, business, labor union, etc.). 
This is docket number FAA-2004-19694. You may review the DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
    Are there any specific portions of this proposed AD I should pay 
attention to? We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this 
proposed AD. If you contact us through a nonwritten communication and 
that contact relates to a substantive part of this proposed AD, we will 
summarize the contact and place the summary in the docket. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
proposed AD in light of those comments and contacts.

Docket Information

    Where can I go to view the docket information? You may view the AD 
docket that contains the proposal, any comments received, and any final 
disposition in person at the DMS Docket Offices between 9:00 a.m. and 
5:00 p.m. (eastern standard time), Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-647-5227) is 
located on the plaza level of the Department of Transportation NASSIF 
Building at the street address stated in ADDRESSES. You may also view 
the AD docket on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The comments will 
be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    What events have caused this proposed AD? The Cirrus Design 
Corporation (CDC) performed dynamic seat testing on Models SR20 and 
SR22 airplanes. CDC found that, under emergency landing dynamic loads, 
the crew seats may fold forward at less than the 26 Gs required by 14 
CFR Section 23.562 (b) (2).
    What is the potential impact if FAA took no action? If not 
prevented, the crew seats folding forward during emergency landing with 
dynamic loads could result in occupant injury.
    Is there service information that applies to this subject? Cirrus 
Design Corporation has issued Service Bulletin SB 2X-25-06 R2, dated 
December 6, 2004, and Service Bulletin SB A2X-25-08, dated June 22, 
2004.
    What are the provisions of this service information? The service 
bulletins include procedures for:

--Inspecting crew seat break-over bolts;
--Adjusting the crew seat break-over bolts;
--Checking recline lock identification;
--Performing recline lock replacement; and
--Checking break-over pin alignment.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    What has FAA decided? We have evaluated all pertinent information 
and

[[Page 2371]]

identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on 
other products of this same type design. For this reason, we are 
proposing AD action.
    What would this proposed AD require? This proposed AD would require 
you to incorporate the actions in the previously-referenced service 
bulletins.
    How does the revision to 14 CFR part 39 affect this proposed AD? On 
July 10, 2002, we published a new version of 14 CFR part 39 (67 FR 
47997, July 22, 2002), which governs FAA's AD system. This regulation 
now includes material that relates to altered products, special flight 
permits, and alternative methods of compliance. This material 
previously was included in each individual AD. Since this material is 
included in 14 CFR part 39, we will not include it in future AD 
actions.

Costs of Compliance

    How many airplanes would this proposed AD impact? We estimate that 
this proposed AD affects 1,501 airplanes in the U.S. registry.
    What would be the cost impact of this proposed AD on owners/
operators of the affected airplanes? CDC will provide warranty credit 
for service bulletins SB A2X-25-08, dated June 22, 2004, and SB 2X-25-
06 R2, dated December 6, 2004.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    What authority does FAA have for issuing this rulemaking action? 
Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106 describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this AD.

Regulatory Findings

    Would this proposed AD impact various entities? We have determined 
that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under 
Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would not have a substantial 
direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    Would this proposed AD involve a significant rule or regulatory 
action? For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a summary of the costs to comply with this proposed AD 
and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket FAA-2004-19694; Directorate Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD'' in 
your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 
CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Cirrus Design Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2004-19694; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-CE-41-AD

When Is the Last Date I Can Submit Comments on This Proposed AD?

    (a) We must receive comments on this proposed airworthiness 
directive (AD) by February 24, 2005.

What Other ADs Are Affected by This Action?

    (b) None.

What Airplanes Are Affected by This AD?

    (c) This AD affects the following airplane models and serial 
numbers that are certificated in any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Model                             Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) SR20..............................  1005 through 1439.
(2) SR22..............................  0002 through 1044.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

What Is the Unsafe Condition Presented in This AD?

    (d) This AD is the result of discovering that the crew seats, 
under emergency landing dynamic loads, may fold forward at less than 
26 G required by the regulations, 14 Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) Section 23.562 (b) (2). The actions specified in this AD are 
intended to prevent the crew seats from folding forward during 
emergency landing with dynamic loads with consequent occupant 
injury.

What Must I Do To Address This Problem?

    (e) To address this problem, you must do the following:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Actions                  Compliance          Procedures
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) For models SR20, serial       Within 50 hours     Follow Cirrus
 numbers 1005 through 1423, and    time-in-service     Design
 SR22, serial numbers 0002         (TIS) or within     Corporation
 through 0972, do the following    180 days,           Service Bulletin
 actions:.                         whichever occurs    SB A2X-25-08,
                                   first after the     dated June 22,
                                   effective date      2004.
                                   this AD.
(i) Move the lower portion of
 the crew seat upholstery upward
 to expose of the seat frame and
 locking mechanism. Measure the
 clearance between the break-
 over bolt and the seat frame
 for a clearance that meets the
 requirements in the service
 bulletin.
(ii) If the clearance does not
 meet that specified in the
 service bulletin, perform the
 crew seat break-over bolt
 adjustment and re-cover the
 crew seat frame and locking
 mechanism with the upholstery.

[[Page 2372]]

 
(iii) If the clearance does meet
 that specified in the service
 bulletin, re-cover the crew
 seat frame and locking
 mechanism.
(2) For models SR20, serial       Within 50 hours     Follow Cirrus
 numbers 1005 through 1439, and    TIS or within 180   Design
 SR22, serial numbers 0002         days, whichever     Corporation
 through 1044, do the following    occurs first        Service Bulletin
 actions:.                         after the           SB 2X-25-06 R2,
                                   effective date of   dated December 6,
                                   this AD.            2004.
(i) Identify whether the recline
 lock is secured with two bolts
 or three bolts.
(ii) If the recline locks are
 secured effective 6, 2004. with
 two bolts, remove the existing
 recline date of this locks and
 replace with the new recline
 locks AD. kit, kit number 70084-
 001.
(iii) If the recline locks are
 secured with three bolts,
 remove existing recline locks
 and replace with the new
 recline locks kit, kit number
 70084-002.
(iv) Check break-over pin
 alignment and adjust as
 necessary.
(v) Repeat the above actions for
 the opposite crew seat.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    May I Request an Alternative Method of Compliance?
    (f) You may request a different method of compliance or a 
different compliance time for this AD by following the procedures in 
14 CFR 39.19. Unless FAA authorizes otherwise, send your request to 
your principal inspector. The principal inspector may add comments 
and will send your request to the Manager, Chicago Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA. For information on any already approved 
alternative methods of compliance, contact Angie Kostopoulos, 
Aerospace Engineer, ACE-116C, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, 
2300 East Devon Avenue, Room 107, Des Plaines, Illinois 60018; 
telephone: (847) 294-7426; facsimile: (847) 294-7834.

May I Get Copies of the Documents Referenced in This AD?

    (g) To get copies of the documents referenced in this AD, 
contact Cirrus Design Corporation, 4515 Taylor Circle, Duluth, 
Minnesota 55811; telephone: (218) 727-2737. To view the AD docket, 
go to the Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-
401, Washington, DC, or on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. The 
docket number is FAA-2004-19694.

    Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on January 7, 2005.
James E. Jackson,
Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 05-717 Filed 1-12-05; 8:45 am]
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